Folding chair with kneeler



March 19, 1957 J, 00 ET AL FOLDING CHAIR WITH KNEELER Filed Oct. 14, 1954 INVENTOR5 Ari'hu r 1 00221 s? flezy'amizz I 00221 mines .5:

71M 1 BY madzaw ATTORNEY United rates Patent 6 The present invention relates to folding chairs and more particularly to a folding chair having a kneeler mounted thereon.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide a folding chair of the inverted Y-type having a kneeler thereon for the use of the occupant of a chair disposed rearwardly of the chair having the kneeler; to provide such a folding chair and kneeler in which the kneeler is automatically folded when the chair is folded so that the unit may be made compact for storage when not in use; and in general to provide a folding chair with kneeler which is sturdy in construction, reasonably economical in manufacture and attractive in appearance.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side and rear perspective view of the new chair folded for storage; and

Figure 2 is a side and rear perspective view of the same unfolded for use.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the folding chair there shown generally comprises an inverted U-shaped tubular metal front frame forming spaced front chair legs which extend forwardly-downwardly in the unfolded position of the chair, a backrest 11 secured in the upper bight portion 12 of the front frame, a chair seat 13 pivotally mounted on and between the front chair legs 10; and rear chair legs 14 pivotally connected to the front chair legs 10 above the seat 13 and extending rearwardly-downwardly from said pivotal connections in the unfolded position of the chair. Links 15 pivotally connect the opposite rear corners of the chair seat 13 to the rear chair legs 14 so that the chair is foldable as a unit, and stops 16 on the rear of the seat 13 contact an upper tiebar 17 which connects the rear chair legs for limiting unfolding movement of the chair to its position of use. A front lower tie-rod 18 connects the front chair legs 10 above their lower extremities, and a similar rear lower tie-rod 19 connects the rear chair legs 14 above their lower extremities.

Supporting arms 20 are pivotally mounted on the rear lower tie-rod 19 adjacent the rear chair legs, said arms extending both forwardly and rearwardly from these pivotal connections to the rear legs, in the unfolded position of the chair. Links 21 have their forward ends pivotally mounted on the front lower tie-rod 18 adjacent the front chair legs 10, said links 21 extending rearwardly from these pivotal connections to the front legs and being pivotally connected to the forward ends of the supporting arms 20.

A kneeler bar 22 is mounted on the rearward end portions of the supporting arms 20, rearwardly of the rear chair legs 14, by any suitable means. Kneeler legs 23 are pivotally connected to the underside of the kneeler bar 22 and depend therefrom to support the kneeler in the unfolded position of the chair. Levers 24 are provided for folding the kneeler legs 23 when the chair is folded, said levers 24 having their rearward ends pivotally connected to the lower ends of the kneeler legs 23 and having their forward ends pivotally connected to rearward extensions of the links 21 beyond the latters pivotal connections to the supporting arms 20. inwardly extending stop lugs 25 are desirably provided on the rearward extensions of the links 21, which lugs contact the undersides of the supporting arms 20 to limit the upward movement of the pivotal connections between the links 21 and supporting arms 29 when the chair is unfolded.

It will readily be seen that when the chair is folded by lifting the front edge of the chair seat 13 and thus drawing the rear chair legs 14 together with the front chair legs 10, the kneeler bar 22 will automatically be swung upwardly and the kneeler legs 23 will be drawn forwardly by the levers 24. The chair is thus readily foldable to a compact form for storage as seen in Figure 1 and to an extended form for use as seen in Figure 2.

While but one specific embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as the same is defined by the following claim.

We claim:

In a folding chair: spaced, forwardly-downwardly extending front chair legs; a chair seat disposed between the front chair legs and pivotally connected thereto; rear chair legs pivotally connected to the front chair legs above the chair seat and extending rearwardly-downwardly from said pivotal connections; links pivotally connected at their rearward ends to the rear chair legs and at their forward ends to the seat whereby lifting of the seat at its front edge effects folding movement of the rear chair legs to positions alongside the front chair legs; a front tie-rod connecting the front legs above their lower extremities and a rear tie-rod connecting the rear legs above their lower extremities at approximately the same level as the front tie-rod; supporting arms pivotally mounted on said rear tie-rod adjacent the rear chair legs, said supporting arms extending both forwardly and rearwardly from said pivotal connections; other links having their forward ends pivotal- 1y mounted on said front tie-rod adjacent the front chair legs, said other links being pivotally connected near their rearward ends to the forward ends of said supporting arms and having portions extending rearwardly beyond said pivotal connections; a kneeler bar mounted on the rearward end portions of the supporting arms rearwardly of the rear chair legs; kneeler legs pivotally connected to the underside of the kneeler bar and depending therefrom at opposite sides of the bar; and levers having their rearward ends pivotally connected to the lower ends of said kneeler legs and having their forward ends pivotally connected to the portions of said other links which extend rearwardly beyond said links pivotal connections to said supporting arms, whereby folding movement of the rear chair legs pivots said supporting arms and said levers so that the kneeler bar is swung upwardly to folded position between the rear chair legs and the kneeler legs are swung downwardly to folded positions alongside the kneeler bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,754,703 Swindler Apr. 15, 1930 1,846,392 Hambrook Feb. 23, 1932 2,620,019 Merrill Dec. 2, 1952 2,671,497 McIntyre Mar. 9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 344,029 Great Britain Mar. 2, 1931 

